Job Title: Chief Operations Officer
Organisation: Agricultural
Business Initiative (aBi)
Business Initiative (aBi)
Duty Station: Kampala,
Uganda
Uganda
Reports to: Group Chief
Executive (GCEO)
Executive (GCEO)
Job Ref No: SM001
About Us:
The Agricultural Business Initiative (aBi), a group of registered
companies namely aBi Trust and aBi Finance Ltd, is a multi-stakeholder entity
co-founded in July 2010 by the Governments of Uganda and Denmark through DANIDA
and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development respectively,
with the objective to promote “Private sector agribusiness development to
enhance wealth creation.” The development objective of the aBi Trust is
building a self-sustaining export-led economy in which the benefits are shared
by all Ugandans, and its immediate objective is to strengthen the
competitiveness of Uganda’s agricultural and agro-processing sector. It does
this through Value Chain Development (VCD) of six value chains (Coffee,
Cereals, Pulses, Horticulture, Dairy and Oil Seeds) and Financial Services
Development (FSD).
companies namely aBi Trust and aBi Finance Ltd, is a multi-stakeholder entity
co-founded in July 2010 by the Governments of Uganda and Denmark through DANIDA
and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development respectively,
with the objective to promote “Private sector agribusiness development to
enhance wealth creation.” The development objective of the aBi Trust is
building a self-sustaining export-led economy in which the benefits are shared
by all Ugandans, and its immediate objective is to strengthen the
competitiveness of Uganda’s agricultural and agro-processing sector. It does
this through Value Chain Development (VCD) of six value chains (Coffee,
Cereals, Pulses, Horticulture, Dairy and Oil Seeds) and Financial Services
Development (FSD).
Job Summary: The Chief
Operations Officer will provide operational leadership which will ensure that the aBi Trust achieves its
objectives, resulting in a significant impact on the development of
agribusiness in Uganda and the wellbeing of poor people; in addition the COO
takes the lead in ensuring program quality and learning across the aBi Group.
Operations Officer will provide operational leadership which will ensure that the aBi Trust achieves its
objectives, resulting in a significant impact on the development of
agribusiness in Uganda and the wellbeing of poor people; in addition the COO
takes the lead in ensuring program quality and learning across the aBi Group.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Take lead of aBi Trust’s impact in Uganda’s agribusiness sector through
the development of operational plans that will deliver against the strategy and
business plan
the development of operational plans that will deliver against the strategy and
business plan
·
Actively contribute to the development, revision
and communication of aBi’s strategic plan; particularly by feeding in the
results of program quality and learning
Actively contribute to the development, revision
and communication of aBi’s strategic plan; particularly by feeding in the
results of program quality and learning
·
Ensure participation of relevant staff and key
external stakeholders in strategic planning process.
Ensure participation of relevant staff and key
external stakeholders in strategic planning process.
·
Take the lead in working with Head of Portfolio
Development and Head of Technical / Quality Assurance in converting strategy
into operational plans
Take the lead in working with Head of Portfolio
Development and Head of Technical / Quality Assurance in converting strategy
into operational plans
·
Ensure that plans are harmonised with aBi
Finance.
Ensure that plans are harmonised with aBi
Finance.
Ensure the development and implementation of policies, systems,
procedures and tools that will assure quality delivery, effective impact, and
management of risk.
procedures and tools that will assure quality delivery, effective impact, and
management of risk.
·
Keenly review current policies, systems,
procedures and tools to determine effectiveness for achievement of strategic
goals; includes reviewing audit and M&E findings
Keenly review current policies, systems,
procedures and tools to determine effectiveness for achievement of strategic
goals; includes reviewing audit and M&E findings
·
Ensure that research into best practice is
conducted and incorporated into the design of new or improved systems/tools
Ensure that research into best practice is
conducted and incorporated into the design of new or improved systems/tools
·
Ensure the roll-out of new or improved
systems/tools (e.g. through communication, training & delegation to staff)
Ensure the roll-out of new or improved
systems/tools (e.g. through communication, training & delegation to staff)
·
Work closely with the Technical Manager to
develop ICT systems and tools
Work closely with the Technical Manager to
develop ICT systems and tools
·
Act as a role model and hold the team
accountable for effective risk management
Act as a role model and hold the team
accountable for effective risk management
Lead the development and implementation of a project pipeline that will
drive the achievement of the strategy and utilization of funds
drive the achievement of the strategy and utilization of funds
·
Steer the design of strategic interventions; encompassing
learning from impact assessments into the development of theories of change.
Steer the design of strategic interventions; encompassing
learning from impact assessments into the development of theories of change.
·
Take lead in the identification of implementing
partners who will have high impact.
Take lead in the identification of implementing
partners who will have high impact.
·
Identify and address opportunities for aBi to
act as a convener and investment broker.
Identify and address opportunities for aBi to
act as a convener and investment broker.
·
Ensure the project portfolio is managed
effectively.
Ensure the project portfolio is managed
effectively.
Lead program quality and learning, ensuring that aBi continuously
develops broad and deep understanding of the agricultural sector and how to
enhance it
develops broad and deep understanding of the agricultural sector and how to
enhance it
·
Stay abreast with developing understanding in the
field
Stay abreast with developing understanding in the
field
·
Work in liaison with the COO Corporate Services
and the EPR Team to coordinate M&E activities: development of results
measurement framework, conducting of baseline, impact studies and evaluation;
plus training of implementing partners to participate.
Work in liaison with the COO Corporate Services
and the EPR Team to coordinate M&E activities: development of results
measurement framework, conducting of baseline, impact studies and evaluation;
plus training of implementing partners to participate.
·
Lead the aBi team in reviewing lessons learned
and developing understanding Oversee the development and implementation of
knowledge management systems & reporting
Lead the aBi team in reviewing lessons learned
and developing understanding Oversee the development and implementation of
knowledge management systems & reporting
Actively participate in the development and implementation of aBi’s
Communications plan; ensuring that the plan will result in key stakeholders
being influenced effectively:
Communications plan; ensuring that the plan will result in key stakeholders
being influenced effectively:
·
Lead the team in identifying which of aBi’s
strategies require stakeholders to be influenced
Lead the team in identifying which of aBi’s
strategies require stakeholders to be influenced
·
Work closely with the Advocacy &
Communications Manager to ensure that stakeholder analysis is carried out and
influencing strategies developed
Work closely with the Advocacy &
Communications Manager to ensure that stakeholder analysis is carried out and
influencing strategies developed
·
Ensure that the team delivers any components of
the communications strategy and plan that are allocated to them.
Ensure that the team delivers any components of
the communications strategy and plan that are allocated to them.
·
Take personal responsibility for influencing,
advocacy and communication according to personal interest and priorities.
Take personal responsibility for influencing,
advocacy and communication according to personal interest and priorities.
Lead the aBi Trust Team, in a manner that empowers them to deliver
aBi’s goals and objectives:
aBi’s goals and objectives:
·
Communicate to the aBi Trust Team a clear and
exciting vision for the work of the organisation.
Communicate to the aBi Trust Team a clear and
exciting vision for the work of the organisation.
·
Ensure that each team member is provided with
clear expectations for achievement of results, standards and behaviour.
Ensure that each team member is provided with
clear expectations for achievement of results, standards and behaviour.
·
Plan and organise the work of the department so
as to accomplish strategic and operational goals in the most cost effective
manner possible; ensuring that an appropriately sized team of competent staff
and consultants are in place.
Plan and organise the work of the department so
as to accomplish strategic and operational goals in the most cost effective
manner possible; ensuring that an appropriately sized team of competent staff
and consultants are in place.
·
Support and build the capacity of team members
to enable them to give of their best e.g. by encouraging and praising good
performance, coaching, training, assisting staff to prevent or resolve
problems, providing resources, tools and equipment.
Support and build the capacity of team members
to enable them to give of their best e.g. by encouraging and praising good
performance, coaching, training, assisting staff to prevent or resolve
problems, providing resources, tools and equipment.
·
Monitor and review performance and, in
particular, hold staff accountable for achieving results, meeting standards of
excellence and delivering any improvement goals which have been identified;
taking decisive action in the case of poor performance.
Monitor and review performance and, in
particular, hold staff accountable for achieving results, meeting standards of
excellence and delivering any improvement goals which have been identified;
taking decisive action in the case of poor performance.
Ensure effective utilisation of the finances associated with the aBi
Trust; in compliance with aBi policies and donor requirements:
Trust; in compliance with aBi policies and donor requirements:
·
Chair the aBi Trust Investment Committee; aiming
to maximise the impact of aBi’s resources.
Chair the aBi Trust Investment Committee; aiming
to maximise the impact of aBi’s resources.
·
Develop and oversee the budget for aBi Trust;
ensuring that plans and resources are matched and priorities for expenditure
identified.
Develop and oversee the budget for aBi Trust;
ensuring that plans and resources are matched and priorities for expenditure
identified.
·
Manage the finances of the department, reviewing
expenditure against budget and taking any necessary corrective actions;
ensuring cost-effective utilisation of resources at all times.
Manage the finances of the department, reviewing
expenditure against budget and taking any necessary corrective actions;
ensuring cost-effective utilisation of resources at all times.
·
Safeguarding aBi’s financial resources by giving
due consideration before signing approvals; whilst contributing towards
efficiency with a quick turnaround time
Safeguarding aBi’s financial resources by giving
due consideration before signing approvals; whilst contributing towards
efficiency with a quick turnaround time
Qualifications, Skills and
Experience:
Experience:
·
The applicant should preferably hold a Masters
in Agricultural Economics or Business Administration
The applicant should preferably hold a Masters
in Agricultural Economics or Business Administration
·
A minimum of ten years working experience in
senior management role
A minimum of ten years working experience in
senior management role
·
Broad knowledge of aBi Trust products and
facilities and risks profile of these products
Broad knowledge of aBi Trust products and
facilities and risks profile of these products
·
Knowledge and experience in value chain
development in developing countries, especially within the agricultural sector
Knowledge and experience in value chain
development in developing countries, especially within the agricultural sector
·
Working knowledge and experience in agricultural
market development for business services
Working knowledge and experience in agricultural
market development for business services
·
Significant exposure and experience with
smallholder development strategies and organic agriculture development are an
added advantage
Significant exposure and experience with
smallholder development strategies and organic agriculture development are an
added advantage
·
Knowledge and experience in establishing quality
and learning systems in organizations
Knowledge and experience in establishing quality
and learning systems in organizations
·
Previous exposure and experience in leading
cross cultural, multi-functional teams for performance
Previous exposure and experience in leading
cross cultural, multi-functional teams for performance
·
Previous exposure and experience in Networking
and building to develop strategic partnerships
Previous exposure and experience in Networking
and building to develop strategic partnerships
·
Proficiency in Microsoft programs and report
writing
Proficiency in Microsoft programs and report
writing
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested candidates should apply online by
clicking on link below and following the instructions.
clicking on link below and following the instructions.
Deadline: 25th November 2016
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